Plato's Closet is one of those rare places that teens and their parents both approve of -- but for different reasons.
To fashion-conscious high school students, the resale shop in Holiday Center, Monroeville, is a trendy haven for the latest designer styles. To their budget-minded parents, it's a clothing boutique where prices actually make sense.
On a recent shopping trip to Plato's Closet, Maggie Baird, a senior this fall at Highlands High School in Harrison, had three pairs of jeans draped over her arm, with price tags at about a third of their original cost: Abercrombie & Fitch jeans, $20; Tommy Hilfiger and Express jeans, $15 each.
Her sister, Jessie Baird, a junior at Penn State University, said she had been to the shop earlier in the week, when she bought a Ralph Lauren dress, three pairs of shoes, two shirts, an Abercrombie skirt and a pair of J. Crew jeans -- all for $92.
Jessie says there's a Plato's Closet in State College, but "a lot of kids haven't heard of it yet. I'm starting to get them turned on to this store."
Her sister was pleased with the merchandise she had discovered. "I know where I'm getting jeans from now on," she said.
Sue Hyde, owner of Plato's Closet, says the franchised store has been open since May 2002 and has attracted a growing number of shoppers.
"We're building steadily as word-of-mouth spreads," she says. "We look for the better brands of clothing. The style is the key."
Besides selling designer clothing, Hyde buys gently used clothing from customers. Items must be in good condition, she says, and in style. They must be folded neatly and delivered in laundry baskets or boxes, preferably not on hangers or in plastic bags. The amount she pays is determined by the brand and the condition of the apparel.
Unlike a consignment shop -- where money is paid only if an item sells -- Plato's Closet offers cash for clothing when it is brought in, as long as the garments meet the requirements.
Cindy Dewyer, manager at the Monroeville location, lists some of the prices being paid to people bringing in gently worn clothing: $20 for Abercrombie, Tommy, DKNY, Banana Republic or Fubu jeans; $6 to $10 for Gap, Nike, American Eagle or Aeropostale tops; and $8 to $12 for Old Navy, Mudd, Blue Asphalt, Levi's or Paris dresses; and $4 to $6 for Bum, Utility, Route 66 or Sonoma sweat pants and tops.
"A lot of people don't know we also have a men's section," Dewyer says, "and coats, hats, shoes and accessories."
Kayla Nale of Murrysville, an eighth-grader at Franklin Regional Middle School, says she saw the exact Roxie sweatshirt she bought for $18 at Plato's Closet selling for $40 elsewhere. Her sister, Heather, 16, a junior at Franklin Regional High School, says the Angels top she was paying $12 for at Plato's usually sells for $38.
Getting paid for turning in gently used garments is a great idea, says their mother, Debbie. "They grow out of their clothes, and (the clothes) just hang in their closet."
Dewyer says back-to-school shoppers have made the recycling retail store a busy place the past few weeks. "Right now, we're getting swamped with clothes to buy," she says. "They're cleaning out their closets before school starts."
Plato's Closet is at 3747 William Penn Highway, Monroeville. It's open from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Mondays through Saturdays and noon to 5 p.m. Sundays. Clothes to be sold must be brought in to the store at least one hour before closing. Available sizes are girls' size 12 to juniors' size 15; guys' size 12 to waist size 38.
Details: (412) 372-2544 or www.TradeYaNow.com .
